Various Executives - Parliamentary, Presidential, Half Presidential

In the government, one branch makes decisions related to rules and policies and another branch implements these rules. The Executive is the part of the government that performs administrative tasks to implement policies. The official titles of the Executive branch vary from country to country. The civil service branch that carries out day-to-day administration is also part of it.

Political Executive and Permanent Executive

The non-official branch that heads the executive branch is called the Political Executive. The Political Executive is elected through elections. The Executive is also elected by tradition. 

Example - President, Prime Minister, Ministers

The officials who assist the political executive are called the Permanent Executive. They remain in office until they reach the age of retirement. The permanent executive branch is selected through competitive examinations. 

Example : Employees from the last grade employee to the highest service IAS and IPS

Various types of Executives

1. Parliamentary system

2. Presidential system

3. Half-presidential system

1. Parliamentary system

In the parliamentary system, the executive branch makes the law. The real power will be held by the cabinet headed by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will be the leader of the majority party in the legislature. The Prime Minister will be responsible to the legislature. There is an inseparable relationship between the executive branch and the legislative branch. The collective responsibility of the cabinet exists.

Example: India, Italy, Japan, Britain, Portugal

Other names by which the parliamentary system is known - Cabinet government, responsible government, Westminster model of government. The parliamentary system was called the cabinet system by Ivor Jennings. British political scientists used to address the head of the cabinet as 'Primus Inter Pares' in the past. This expression means First among equals. That is how the head of the cabinet got the name Prime Minister.

Features of the Parliamentary System

• Nominal & Real Executives - In the parliamentary system, the nominal executive (head of state) is the President. In the parliamentary system, the real executive (head of the administration) is the Prime Minister. The duty of the Prime Minister and other ministers is to assist the President in administrative matters.

• Majority Party Rule - In India, the party with the majority in the Lok Sabha comes to power. The leader of the party is the Prime Minister. The other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

• Collective Responsibility - This is a fundamental principle of the parliamentary system. Ministers are collectively responsible to Parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular.

• Political Homogeneity - Usually the members of the ruling party belong to the same political party. Therefore, they share the same political ideology. However, if more than one party forms the government, there will be instability in the government.

• Double Membership - Ministers have membership in both the legislature and the executive. A person who is not a member of Parliament cannot normally become a minister. In some special circumstances, even if he is appointed as a minister, he must become a member of Parliament within six months.

• Leadership of the Prime Minister - The Prime Minister is the leader of the Cabinet, Parliament and the party. He plays an important and crucial role in the functioning of the government.

• Dissolution of the Lok Sabha - The Speaker of the Lok Sabha can dissolve the Lok Sabha at the request of the Prime Minister. This indicates that the executive has control over the legislature.

• Secrecy - Those who govern are bound to maintain secrecy necessary for national security. Information about their procedures, policies and decisions cannot be disclosed.

Main reasons for India adopting a parliamentary executive system

The 1919 and 1935 Acts were passed during the British rule. Under these Acts, we had a parliamentary system of government at that time. In a parliamentary system, the people can effectively control the executive. The framers of the Constitution thought that this system would be more suitable for ensuring responsiveness and accountability of the government to the aspirations of the public. In the parliamentary system, there are many means of controlling and holding the executive to account. By using these means, the House and its members can check the excessive activities of the executive.

2. Presidential system

The head of state and head of government will be the president. The president will have extensive powers in principle and practice. The president will be elected directly by the people. The president will not be responsible to the legislature. The president is elected for a fixed term. The president is not a member of the legislature. Its basis is the separation of powers. Ministers are the president's officers. The president does not have the power to dissolve the legislature.

Example: USA, Brazil

3. Half-Presidential system

• The president will be the head of state

• The head of government will be the prime minister.

• The prime minister and the cabinet will be responsible to the legislature.

• The president and the prime minister are directly elected.

• The president and the prime minister have the power to intervene in daily affairs.

• A system based on the principle of collective leadership.

Example: France, Russia, Sri Lanka

Countries and systems

• USA - Presidential system is in place. That is, all executive powers are vested in the President.

• Canada - A parliamentary system of government with a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.

• France - A half-presidential system. In France, the Prime Minister and the President are part of the executive. In France, the President appoints the Prime Minister and ministers, but does not have the power to dismiss them. The Prime Minister and ministers are responsible to the Parliament.

• Japan - A parliamentary system with the Prime Minister as the head of government and the Emperor as the head of state.

• Russia - A half-presidential system with the President as the head of state and the Prime Minister appointed by him as the head of government.

• Germany - A parliamentary system with the Chancellor as the head of government and the President as the head of state with nominal powers.

• Italy - A parliamentary system prevails. The head of state is the president and the head of government is the prime minister.